Terrorists re-group in PoK

21 March 2002The Daily ExcelsiorExcelsior Correspondent

New Delhi: The Government of India has reports clearly suggesting regrouping of terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. These terrorists, now operating in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), are from some parts of Pakistan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Omar Abdullah, informed the Lok Sabha. Replying to a question by Col (retd) Sona Ram Choudhary, Mr Omar Abdullah reiterated that it was increasingly clear that Pakistan sought to continue its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism in India. Mr Abdullah, in fact, accused Pakistan of seeking to pass off cosmetic half measures, non-measures and fictitious incidents against terrorist group as a so-called crackdown against terrorist groups operating from its territories under its control. On the recent suggestion from Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr Abdul Sattar, favouring extradition treaty with India, Mr Omar Abdullah made a pointed reference to Mr L K Advaniís meeting with Pakistan President in July last year when the Indian Home Minister had proposed the conclusion of an extradition treaty between the two countries and said that Gen Parvez Musharraf turned down the suggestion arguing that such a treaty was possible only after normalization of relations between India and Pakistan. ''It is quite obvious that Pakistan'', Mr Omar Abdullah said in reply to a question by Mr Vilas Muttemwar, ''is attempting to use the issue of an extradition treaty purely for purposes of propaganda and as a delaying tactic to divert attention from the fact that Pakistan continues to provide safe haven to terrorists and other fugitives from law''. Mr Omar Abdullah sought to highlight Pakistanís hand behind the December 13 attack on Parliament House as he informed Mr Ramesh Chennithala and two others that the two terrorist outfits, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, involved in the incident, are known for their ''close links'' with Pakistanís intelligence agencies. The international community, Mr Abdullah reiterated, had been openly acknowledging that fact that Pakistan sponsors cross-border terrorism and uses it as an ''instrument of state policy''. He also reiterated that the international community strongly supported Indiaís resolve to resist terrorism until it is decisively crushed.